By targeting Aldh1a1, scientists said in a LiveScience January 3, 2013, could develop weight loss or obesity treatments, especially to women, said researcher Ouliana Ziouzenkova, assistant professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University.
However, he added, the treatment will not be made in the near future, because the study was conducted on mice. Scientists should try first if the effect is the same in humans. In addition, Aldh1a1 also has other important functions in the body in addition to forming fat. So the complete abolition of enzymes that can not be done.
A study published in the January issue of the journal Diabetes revealed that obesity was caused by enzymes Aldh1a1. Specialized in women, enzyme activity involving the production of fat in the body rises sharply at menopause. In men, the activity of this enzyme did not change with age.
Role Aldh1a1 lead to obesity has been demonstrated in a number of experiments on mice. Female rats who consume foods rich in fat have more Aldh1a1 and produce and store more visceral fat (fat around the abdomen) compared to male rats who consume foods rich in fat, too. In contrast, female rats will remain thin despite eating foods rich in fat if they are genetic enzyme deficiency.
Female hormone estrogen seems to support the activities of Aldh1a1. That is, younger women, who have higher estrogen levels, protected from the adverse effects caused by these enzymes. However, after menopause, estrogen levels decrease, leading to increased activity of Aldh1a1 and make women prone to weight gain.
